Genes that may be associated with the development of the disease.
Scenario:
A 49-year-old patient with rheumatoid arthritis comes into the clinic with a chief complaint of a fever.
Patient’s current medications include atorvastatin 40 mg at night, methotrexate 10 mg po every Friday morning and prednisone 5 mg po qam.
He states that he has had a fever up to 101 degrees F for about a week and admits to chills and sweats.
He says he has had more fatigue than usual and reports some chest pain associated with coughing.
He admits to having occasional episodes of hemoptysis.
He works as a grain inspector at a large farm cooperative.
After extensive work-up, the patient was diagnosed with Invasive aspergillosis.
Develop a 1- to 2-page case study analysis in which you:
Explain why you think the patient presented the symptoms described. (Not a trick question but reflective of a patient on immunosuppressive drugs and a high-risk employment for exposure to Aspergillosis)
Identify the genes that may be associated with the development of the disease.
Explain the process of immunosuppression and the effect it has on body systems.
Developing answers to these 3 questions, each question 1-2 paragraphs will bring you to the 2-page expected limit. 3 pages will not lose points but learning to synthesize points, provide current references (submissions like this would earn 3 primary references) and citations will garner full credit.
Sample Solution
here is a case study analysis of a 49-year-old patient with rheumatoid arthritis who presented with fever, chills, sweats, fatigue, chest pain, and hemoptysis. The patient was eventually diagnosed with invasive aspergillosis.
Symptoms
The patient's symptoms are consistent with invasive aspergillosis, a serious fungal infection that can affect the lungs, sinuses, and other organs. The infection is caused by a fungus called Aspergillus fumigatus, which is commonly found in soil and decaying vegetation. People with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to invasive aspergillosis.
Full Answer Section
The patient's fever, chills, and sweats are all signs of infection. The chest pain and hemoptysis are more specific to invasive aspergillosis, and they are caused by the fungus growing in the lungs. Risk factors The patient's risk factors for invasive aspergillosis include his rheumatoid arthritis and his employment as a grain inspector. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that damages the joints and other tissues. It can also weaken the immune system, making people more susceptible to infections. The patient's work as a grain inspector exposes him to Aspergillus fumigatus, which can increase his risk of developing invasive aspergillosis. Genes There are a number of genes that have been associated with the development of invasive aspergillosis. These genes are involved in the body's immune response to infection. People who have mutations in these genes are more likely to develop invasive aspergillosis, even if they do not have other risk factors. Immunosuppression Immunosuppression is the suppression of the immune system. It can be caused by a number of factors, including medications, diseases, and certain medical procedures. Immunosuppression can increase the risk of infection, including invasive aspergillosis. The patient in this case is taking methotrexate and prednisone, which are both immunosuppressive medications. These medications are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, but they can also increase the risk of infection. The process of immunosuppression and its effect on body systems The immune system is a complex system that protects the body from infection. It is made up of a variety of cells and proteins that work together to fight off harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Immunosuppression is the suppression of the immune system. It can be caused by a number of factors, including medications, diseases, and certain medical procedures. Immunosuppression can increase the risk of infection, including invasive aspergillosis. There are a number of ways that immunosuppression can affect the body systems. For example, it can:- Reduce the number of white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infection.
- Interfere with the production of antibodies, which are proteins that help the body fight infection.
- Make it more difficult for the body to clear infections.